Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the inadequacy of public transport across the Rockhampton, Gracemere and Mount Morgan areas; school children are being forced to stand in aisles of buses hurtling down the Capricorn Highway at 100 km/h due to insufficient transport services across the region. In accordance with the Commonwealth Government’s Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) Act 1994 s 2 says the state is responsible for the effective planning and efficient management of public transport. Further, (b) to provide a system of public passenger transport in the State that – (i) is responsive to the community needs; (ii) offers an attractive alternative to private transport in a way that reduces the overall environmental economic and social costs of passenger transport; (iii) addresses the challenges of future growth; (iv) provides a high level of accountability; and (v) provides public passenger services at a reasonable cost to the community and government.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to revise and improve existing bus networks and their ticketing regulations for all residents including Gracemere and surrounds, and increase funding for public transport expansions in the region to accommodate population demands.